Nick Compton left out of England squad for Ashes warm-up against Essex

Nick Compton has been dropped by England for their match against Essex at Chelmsford. Photograph: Ben Hoskins/Getty Images

On the day that Australia sacked their coach, the England selectors also displayed a ruthless streak by ruining Nick Compton's Ashes dreams. Compton was the conspicuous omission from a 14-man squad named for the four-day fixture against Essex starting at Chelmsford on Sunday that will form a key part of England's preparations for the first Test at Trent Bridge, and the national selector, Geoff Miller, made no attempt to sweeten the pill.

Compton scored consecutive centuries in England's series in New Zealand earlier this year but was not mentioned in the press release that accompanied the squad announcement. "We believe Joe Root is currently the best opening partner for Alastair Cook and he will open the batting against Essex," said Miller. Root impressed in the two home Tests against New Zealand in the spring when Compton could only score 39 runs from four innings, leaving him with 54 in his last six. Compton must now decide whether to play for his county, Somerset, in a four-day game against the Australians that starts in Taunton on Wednesday – his 30th birthday. Boyd Rankin is the most striking inclusion in the 14. The tall Warwickshire fast bowler has played 37 one-day internationals and 15 Twenty20 matches for his native Ireland but was called into England's squad for the recent ODI series against New Zealand without playing a game, and would seem to have leapfrogged Chris Tremlett in the pecking order of fast bowlers. He joins five other seamers in the squad of varying experience — James Anderson, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Steve Finn and Graham Onions.Miller described the Essex match as "a vital part of our preparations for the Investec Ashes after a period of limited overs cricket for a large number of the squad. We have a very exciting two months of Test cricket coming up and it is important that we start well at Chelmsford next week. Kevin Pietersen has had no complications following his recent return to cricket after a knee injury which is pleasing and Graeme Swann is recovering well from a calf injury."

The former England all-rounder and Northamptonshire director of cricket David Capel has been appointed to work with the women's team for their Ashes series this summer. Capel will work alongside the former Leicestershire off-spinner Carl Crowe as assistants to Paul Shaw, who was recently appointed head of women's performance.